Tuesday, 3 September 2013

Legendary Prog Rock icon Ian Anderson has announced a 2014 22 Date UK tour, which will follow the release of his new concept album to be recorded early next year and released around Easter. The UK tour begins in late April and goes through May; the show will feature a selection from his new 2014-release concept album - which he defines as ‘Folk-Prog-Metal’ together with a selection of Jethro Tull highlights. The upcoming record release will feature heavier, less acoustic guitar sounds and more of Anderson’s trademark flute.

Anderson will also be recognised as one of the foremost influencers of rock at this years Progressive Music Awards, by being honoured with the Prog God Award on 3rd September in London.

He says “After winning the Grammy for best “Hard Rock/Metal” album back in 1988, this seems like an opportunity to justify that strange and misplaced accolade with a new album to celebrate the more forceful, full-on rock credentials which are found in many of my songs over the last 45 years. It's not an end to the acoustic and gentler moments but more of an emphasis on the louder aggressive flute style which marked me out from the earliest days of Jethro Tull.”

The Prog God Award celebrates the innovators of rock. The people who have inspired generations and have carved a way for others to be at their creative best. There is no one who has pushed the boundaries more than Ian Anderson, who to this day remains immersed in his love for the music.

On winning the award, Anderson continued, “The innocent voyage of restless souls: that's prog rock. Sometimes bombastic, self-indulgent and worse, it is also an honest, gut-felt reaction to the often simplistic and repetitive nature of much of pop and rock.

It is, indeed, an honour to receive this illustrious Prog award and dwell in such lofty heights amongst the good and the great of the last forty-plus years. I remain very happy to inhabit the progressive rock world, as both performer and listener.

And where else could a self-taught, mediocre but extremely loud flute player make a decent living? Not in country and western, I would suppose. But, hey: if the boots fit and the buckskin-fringed coyote crooner calls, then count me in Cowboy! Brokeback Mountain could never sound sweeter.”

Jerry Ewing, Editor of Prog Magazine says, “For 45 years Ian has been playing live, and I don’t think I have ever seen two shows the same! It doesn’t matter if its Jethro Tull or Ian on his own – its always magnificent, groundbreaking and captivating. Without him rock would be a very different and lesser place, so to announce him as our Prog God at the same time as he announces a UK tour seems hugely fitting.”

Following the great success of his current ‘Thick As A Brick’ tour – including a one-off performance at the iconic Royal Albert Hall – tickets for the 2014 shows are expected to go fast when they go on sale on 4th September.

Full dates are:

Date City Venue Box Office Ticket Prices

APRIL

28th Brighton Dome 01273 709 709 £26 + ?30

29th Southampton Guildhall 023 8063 2601 £26 + ?30

MAY

01st Salisbury City Hall 01722 434 434 £26 + £30

02nd Liverpool Philharmonic 0151 709 3789 £26 + £30

03rd Birmingham Symphony Hall 0121 345 0600 £27.50 + £32.50

04th Oxford New Theatre 0844 871 3020 £28 + £32

06th Bristol Colston Hall 0844 887 1500 £28 + £32

07th High WycombeSwan Theatre01494 512 000 £28 + £32

08th Guildford G Live 0844 7701 797 £28 + £32

09th CambridgeCorn Exchange 01223 357 851 £26 + £30

10th IpswichRegent Theatre 01473 433 100 £26 + £30

11th Leicester De Montfort Hall 0116 233 3111 £26 + £30

13th Derby Assembly Rooms 01332 255 800 £26 + £30

14th Manchester Palace Theatre 0844 871 3019 £28 + £32

15th York Royal Opera House 0844 871 3024 £28 + £32

Date City Venue Box Office Ticket Prices

MAY

16th Newcastle Sage Theatre 0191 443 4661 £26 + £30

18th Edinburgh Festival Theatre 0131 529 6000 £26 + £30

19th Perth Concert Hall 01738 621 031 £26 + £30

20th Aberdeen Music Hall 01224 632 080 £26 + £30

21st Inverness Eden Court 01463 234 234 £26 + £30

24th London 02 Shepherds Bush Empire 0844 477 2000 £28 + £32

25thLondon 02 Shepherds Bush 0844 477 2000 £28 + £32

Tickets go on sale on 4th September at 9.00am online booking: www.gigantic.com/artist/ian-anderson or from venue box offices. Tickets are subject to booking fee. Ian Anderson will be onstage at 7.30pm. There is no support.